Zelenskyy hits back at same reporter who slammed him for not wearing suit at White House

Volodymyr Zelenskyy hit back at the same reporter who slammed him for his fashion choices last time he appeared at the White House.

The Ukrainian president returned to Washington yesterday (18 August) for a meeting with Donald Trump in the Oval Office.

This follows the US president's meeting with Vladimir Putin which failed to reach a ceasefire agreement for the war on Ukraine.

Zelenskyy’s return to the White House brought ‘very good talks’ with the Ukrainian saying he’s ‘ready for bilateral with Putin’. While they were in the same set up, yesterday’s meeting went very differently to when we saw him sit down with Trump earlier this year.

Their meeting back in February ended up becoming a particularly heated row as the American warned him he was ‘gambling with World War 3’. But Trump wasn’t the only one taking aim at him then, as a reporter attacked his clothing.

The meeting in February didn't go so well (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Providing what is mostly pro-Trump coverage, Brian Glenn is the Chief White House Correspondent for conservative outlet Real America’s Voice.

And during the important meeting back then, he asked: “My second question for President Zelenskyy, do you ever, why don't you wear a suit? Why don't you wear a suit?

“You're the highest level in this country's office and you refuse to wear a suit. Just want to see if you, do you own a suit?”

Zelenskyy simply responded: “I will wear costume after this war will finish,” before clapping back with: “Maybe something like yours, maybe something better. We will see, maybe something cheaper.”

And ahead of Monday’s meeting, there had been talk over what he’d be wearing with Glenn seeming to have a change of tune in how he approached the Ukrainian.

Rather than a full suit, the president wore a jacket (previously described as ‘suit-style’) and a black shirt.

“First of all, president Zelenskyy, you look fabulous in that suit. You look good,” the reporter, who is the partner of Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, said.

And Trump said to the Ukrainian: “That’s the one that attacked you.”

With a knowing smile, Zelenskyy said ‘I remember’ before turning to Glenn: “You are in the same suit. I changed, you have not.”

Zelenskyy hadn't forgotten the fashion police reporter (Aaron Schwartz/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

This got laughs from many in the room, including Trump.

Zelenskyy's black jacket appears to be the same one he wore to the NATO summit in the Netherlands back in June which had marked the first time he’d worn business-style attire since Russia’s invasion in 2022.